Richard Lee

Richard Lee is a postdoctoral research fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia.

He obtained his PhD from the UQ School of Chemical Engineering. His PhD study focussed on grinding and flotation chemistry of copper flotation. Richard’s PhD thesis:

• Identified the fundamental chemistry issue of copper flotation containing high-concentration pyrite, which is a big problem faced by global flotation concentrators
• Proposed a pyrite-selective oxidation method using inorganic radicals to improve the depression of high-concentration pyrite in copper flotation

Currently, Richard is working as a research associate in two Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Projects:

• The first project, sponsored by ARC, Newmont and BHP, is focussing on understanding and mitigating the negative effect of process water to improve gold processing during flotation and leaching
• The second project, sponsored by ARC and Vega Industries, is focussing on improving the processing of low-grade copper ores via grinding and flotation chemistry

Richard’s research specialises in base metal grinding and flotation chemistry, surface chemistry, electrochemistry, radical chemistry (Advanced oxidation processes, AOPs) and leaching. He is currently working to apply inorganic radicals in metallurgical processes to improve the extraction and separation of several base and precious metals.